A survey of more than 80 airlines in the UK shows that more than half plan to base services in other European countries because of congestion at London Heathrow (LHR), according to the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK). Also, 86% of the carriers surveyed said they would add more flights at LHR if more slots were available at the hub.
BAR UK represents 84 scheduled domestic and international carriers operating into the UK. The survey results were announced by Colin Matthews, chief executive of BAA, which operates six UK airports including LHR.
“These figures show that it is a mistake to believe that flights displaced from Heathrow will automatically fly to [London] Stansted, [London] Gatwick or Birmingham instead,” he said. “The message I hear from airlines is clear: if there’s no room at Heathrow then flights will move out of the UK altogether.”
When the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government took office in May 2010, one of its first acts was to scrap proposals for a third runway at LHR. BAA said the airport’s two existing runways currently operate at 99.2% capacity.
In a report released earlier this year, the UK Civil Aviation Authority warned that the lack of available capacity at LHR has already had a negative effect on the UK’s ability to liberalize air services agreements with foreign states, which could potentially open up routes into emerging markets.
In recent months, Prime Minister David Cameron has hinted that the government is prepared to again consider the LHR runway option when seeking to increase airport capacity. A delayed White Paper on aviation policy is due later this summer.
BAR UK chief executive Mike Carrivick commented: “The survey’s results are a chilling reminder that the government must act decisively, and soon, in the national interest.”
Article Source : ATW Daily News
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